Harness frame suspending device



June 2, 1953 P. c. coNsoLET-n HARNESS FRAME SUSPENDING DEIICE 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 25, 1950 INVENTOR.

-PA UL C CoA/@OLETT/ A TTORNE Y .nlllllVLF-...E

P. c. coNsoLETTl 2,640,506

HARNESS FRAME SUSPENDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2, 1953 FiledApril 25, 1950 INVENToR. PA UL C. CoA/0L ETT/ AT TORNE Y greater than,but is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the frame rails sothat as the parts reciprocate to and fro, there shall never be contactbetween the links and rails or between any other portion of thesuspending -means and the frames. Furthermore, these links have as apart thereof, or may be so integrally formed from plastic materials thatthe Contact between metals is prevented thereby to give quieter and moresatisfactory bearing conditions.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail and byreference to the accompanying figures of drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational' view showing a harness frame to which thesuspending means hereinafter described in greater detailhas'beenapplied.

having xed therein a sleeve 36 within which is threaded an eye screwhaving an eye or loop 31 and a threaded shank 38. It is to be understoodthat the three parts incidental to this assembly are clamped together byscrew means 39 or other interconnecting mechanism, these parts and the`details thereof being more thoroughly described in copendingapplication Serial No. 147,473, led March 3, 1950.

The hook 3l connects through the intermediate link 35 to the eye 31 andit is to be observed that the eye 31 vis parallelly disposed withrespect to the length of the frame and, of course, hook 3l then assumesthe same attitude since the link to which each is hooked or otherwiseconnected j makesit no longer essential that they be dis- Fig. 2 is adetail View showing one form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section taken at line 3-3, Fig. 2.

' Figs. 4 and 5 are corresponding views showing so much of the mechanismas is necessary, but of a modified form thereof.

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views showing the invention in slightlymodified form and as it is to be applied to a wooden frame rail.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention, the linkhere being fabricated almost in its entirety from a plastic material.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken at line 3 9, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the link of Figs. 8 and 9.

Now referring to Fig. 1, a harness frame having top and bottom rails and2| and end stru-ts 22 and 23 is shown by way of illustration, this framebeing formed from metal, although it is to be understood that theinvention is equally applicable to other frames of a Wide variety oftypes and materials. The heddles 24 are slideable on bars 25 and 26. Asuspending means by which the frame is maintained in an appropriatevertical position in the loom is also moved throughout its requisiteextent by harness mechanism (not shown since such mechanisms are Wellknown to `those skilled in the art). These lharness mechanisms areattachable to the frames and impart movement thereto through a series ofstraps, tapes, cords or other flexible connectors herein indicated bynumerals 21 and 28 at the top, and to the jack stick ends 29 and 30 atthe Ibottom of the frame. These tapes will hereinafter be referred to assuspending straps and itis to be understood that that term is employedto include all the various elements which are frequently employed forthe purpose.

' The interconnecting ymeans between the suspending straps and the rails20 and 2l include looped connectors such as hook 3l fixed at the end oftape 2l and a second looped connector 32 more or less permanently,although adjustably and detachably fixed within a clamp 33 which is inturn engageable about a rib 34 or the like `forming a -part of the rail20.' Between the looped connectors 3| and 32and completing the attachingor suspending means is a link 35, the details of which will be describedin greater particular hereafter, it being understood that at eachconnecting point of which there are at least four for every frame, themechanism just enumerated is duplicated.

Now referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the parts incidental to onevconnectingmeans at one suspending strap are shown to a. larger scale than thatemployedin Fig. 1, .the clamping means 33 attached to' rib' 34 which ispreferably bead-ed posed at right angles. The link itself is of a totalthickness las is evident in Fig. 3, slightly less than the totalthickness of the rail 20 of the frame, or of the clamping members 33which may preferably be of substantially the same thickness as rail 20,although it should not be thicker. In theory, the link might be ofexactly the same thickness as the rail 20, but to provide a factor ofsafety, its dimension is slightly reduced so that there is nopossibility of contact and consequent wear even though the parts or theframes themselves in their movements become slightly offset or wouldotherwise effect undesired contact if too close dimensions wereattempted to be maintained.

Preferably, the link which is generally referred to by numeral 35, iscomprised of side plates 4i! and 4l which are interconnected by therivets 42 and 43 and preferably, spaced apar-t by bushings 44 and 45.These bushings may be made from any material which would servesatisfactorily for bearing purposes, but since no lubrication ispossible, one of the plastic materials Y easily and -cheaply fabricatedand which is adapted to withstand a maximum amount of wear is to beutilized. By way of example. materials that may be employed includevulcanized bre, thermosetting plastics and thermoplastic materials, andselflubricating metal bushings, one of which is sold under the nameOilite VAs herein illustrated the link 35 is fixed within the loo-p 31of the looped connector-,which is held by the clamping plates 33,although it is to be understood that the opposite may prevail as lwillhereinafter be described by reference to a modification. The hook 3|serves for attaching and detachng the suspending means within a veryshort period of time and with a minimum of effort.

Now referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a slightly modified form of theinvention will .be described. Here the same link 35 is employed, but thelooped connector at the rail of the frame or which is connected directlyto the frame, as the case may be. is open while the other connector `4lattached to the suspending or connecting strap is closed, or, at least,is so restricted as to prevent any unintended disassembly of the parts,but permits them to be detached fby use of considerable force. Incertain cases it is more desirable that the links be connected in thismanner so that they tend to hangnaturally from the suspending meansabove the frame and therefore may be hooked or engaged over the lowerlooped connectors 46 with slightly less effort. The construction hereinillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 may more preferably be Iused at the top ofthe frame while that just above described withrespect to Figs. 2 and 3may be employed at the bottom or lowerrail thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a Wooden frame rail 48 has an eye'screw 49 threadedinto it and the link 35 in this case, directly or more permanently at.tached to form a part of the connector 49 so that a hooked member orconnector 50 similar to the hook A3l is employed at the suspending strapas in Figs. 2 and 3. It is furthermore evident here that the link 35 iscomprised of a pair of side plates,.

rivets, and a single plastic bushing, although two bushings may beemployed if desired. In some instances, a shouldered rivet itself o-r ametallic part circumscribed about that rivet and acting to space theside plates cf the link may be used., This rivet or its bushing may beof a self-lubricating metal.

Now referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, a Still further modification isevident, this modification being adapted to be molded as a single partand from any plastic material such as those above mentioned, andhavngreinforcing rivets, if reinforcement is desired. Here the linkcomprises a solid integral plastic member which includesV the sideplates I and 52 and what may be considered intermediate bushings 53 and54, although these bushings are not separate elements as in the form-sof the invention above shown and described. The rivets or other metallicinserts 55 and 56 may be used as reinforcing members thereby to preventsheering of the bearing or bushing portion of the links if undue strainis experienced.

It is to be observed that the outside diameter of the looped portion ofthe connectors is, in all instances, greater than 'the total thicknessof the frame rails, but since they are disposed parallelly-with respectthereto, there can be no contacts between these looped connecting meanswhich are preferably formed from steel and more particularly, from astainless steel, and the wooden or metallic rails of lighter alloys, thelatter of which are easily Worn or grooved by the harder steel.Accordingly, it is possible to employ heavier gauge stock for the loopedconnectors and to make the loops or hooks therein of appreciable radiusthereby obviating certain difculties in fabrication and any tendency forthe parts to fail prematurely due to the fact that they have been bentto too small an arc.

The term suspending strap is used to designate any and all straps, tapesor cords utilizable for the purpose, while the looped connectors includeall hooks, eye bolts, eye screws and similar means which serve the samegeneral purpose.

While one preferred embodiment and a number of modifications of theinvention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventiveconcept may be carried out in a number of ways. The invention is,therefore. not to be limited to the precise details described, but isintended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof fallingwithin the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, which comprises a looped connector attached to arail of said frame, a suspending strap and a looped connector fixed tothe end thereof, and an intermediate link comprising side plates andcross members extending between said plates and engaged by the loopedconnectors, the total thickness of the link being less than thethickness of the harness frame rail and the link being so disposed thatits side plates are parallel to the length of the frame.

2. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top andvv bottomrails and end Struts, which comprises a .looped connector attached to arail of said frame, the outside diameter of said looped connector beingof greaterl extent than the thickness of a frame rail, a SUS- pendingstrap and a second looped connector xed to the end thereof adjacent saidrst connector and an intermediate link comprising side plates and crossmembers extending between said plates and engaged by the loopedconnectors, one of said connectors being irreleasably engaged with itsend of said link and the other connector being quickly detachabletherefrom, the said link and connectors being so oriented with respectto the frame that the link plates are par allel to the longitudinalplane of the frame and the total thickness of the link less than that ofthe frame rail.

3. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, which comprises a looped connector attached to arail of said frame, the outside diameter of said looped connector beingof greater extent than the thickness of a frame rail,A a suspendingstrap and a second looped connector Xed to the end thereof adjacent saidfirst connector and an intermediate link comprising side plates andcross members extending between said side plates and engaged within thelooped connectors, a nonmetallic bushing on at least-one of the crossmembers and extending between inner walls of the side plates forming abearing between the connector and cross member, the total thickness ofthe link being less than the thickness of the harness frame rail and thelink being so disposed that its side plates are parallel to the lengthof the frame.

4. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, which comprises a looped connector attached to arail of said frame, a suspending strap and a looped connector fixed tothe end thereof and an intermediate link comprising side plates andcross members extending between said plates and engaged by the loopedconnectors in such manner as to be irreleasably attached to that at theframe rail and quick releasably attached to that at the strap, the totalthickness of the link being less than the thickness of the harness framerail and the link being so disposed that its side plates are parallel tothe length of the frame.

5. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, which comprises a looped connector attached to arail of said frame, a suspending strap and a looped connector fixed tothe end thereof, and an intermediate link comprisingside plates andcross members integrally formed from a plastic material, said crossmembers being engaged by said looped connectors, the total thickness ofsaid link being less than the thickness of the harness frame rail andthe link being so disposed that its side plates are parallel to thelength of the frame.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 5 in which the said link is reinforcedby a metallic insert passed through each cross member.

7. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, which comprises a looped, metallic connectorattached to a rail of said frame, a suspending strap and a loopedmetallic connector xed to the end thereof, and an intermediate linkcomprising side plates and cross members extending between said sideplates and engaged by the looped connectors,

. 7 the said cross members of said links being of nonmetallic material,and the total thickness of the link being less than the thickness of theharness frame rail and the link and looped connectors further being sodisposed that the side plates of the former are parallel to the lengthof the frame.

8. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, Which comprises a looped, metallic ccnnectorattached to a rail of said frame, a suspending strap and a loopedmetallic connector fixed to the end thereof, said metallic connectorsbeing formed from bent wire stock, and an intermediate link comprisingside plates and cross members extending between said side plates andhaving a freely releasable engagement With one of said connectors and aconstrictedly releasable engagement at least with the other so thatunhooking of a frame shall be accomplished by disconnecting the freelyreleasable connector only, the total thickness of said link being lessthan the thickness of the harness frame rail and the link being sodisposed that its side plates are parallel to the length of the frame.

9. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, which comprises a looped, metallic connectorattached to a rail of said frame, a suspending strap and a loopedmetallic connector xed to the end thereof, said metallic connectorsbeing formed from bent wire stock, and an intermediate link comprisingside plates and cross members extending between said side plates andengaged by the looped connectors, the said cross members of said linksbeing of non-metallic material, and the total thickness of the linkbeing less than the thickness of the harness frame 8 rail and the linkand looped connectors further being so disposed that the side plates ofthe former are parallel to the length of the frame.

10. A suspending means for a loom harness frame having top and bottomrails and end struts, which comprises a looped connector of bent wireattached to a rail of said frame, a second looped connector of bent Wireattached to a means from which said frame is suspended and by whichmovements are imparted thereto, and an intermediate link comprisingmetallic side plates connected by metallic cross members and havingbushings of plastic material carried by said cross members and engagedby the looped connectors.

11. Mechanism as dei-ined in claim 10 wherein one of said loopedconnectors is of hooked form and engages its respective plastic Washerin ra freely releasable manner, and the other of said connectors isformed to engage its respective plastic washer in such manner as torequire the exercise of force to eiect its detachment.

PAUL C. CONSOLETTI.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 611,950 Soule Oct. 4, 1898 910,160 Zimmer Jan. 19, 19091,322,328 Morgan Nov. 18, 1919 1,803,539 Stone May 5, 1931 1,913,513Rossman et al. June 13, 1933 2,522,625 Lundgren Sept. 19, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 461,467 France Oct. 29, 1913 592,035 FranceApr. 23, 1925

